Egg-carrier



(N0 Model. 2 She'ets'Sheet 1.

J. H. BATCHELDER.

EGG CARRIER. No. 283,954. Patented Aug.'28, 1883.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

J. H. BATOHELDER.

N, PETERS Phmu-mhn n mr, Washinghm. D. Q

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICEQ JAMES H. BATGHELDER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EGG=CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 283,954, dated August28, 1883. Application filed septcmbcr 6, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES H. BATOHELDER, ofChicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Egg-Carriers, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable others tounderstand and make use of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon,forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of eggcarriers composed of a seriesof trays arranged one above the other in any suitable packing-case; andit consists of certain novel features in the construction and arrangcment of the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a top view in perspective of a tray embodying my improvedfeatures. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective, showing how the tray may beused in an inverted position, the top or cover forming the bottom. Fig.3 shows one of the four outside strips, and Fig. 4 one of the series ofinside strips.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the tray composed of the fouroutside strips, B, and the series of inside strips, 0. D D are flapsattached to two of the outside strips, and are adapted to fold inward,forming a. cover and keeping the contents of each tray sepa rate. Thefour outside strips B are of the form shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,one end of each being square, while the opposite end is cut away to formthe head a. The beveled corners b are cut away, as shown, on boththeinside and outside strips in order to allow the head a to beconveniently inserted in the right-angled slots a. If the corners werenot cut away in this manner,they would come in contact with the''oining-strip, as the strips must be held at a certain angle when beingjoined together. The outside strips are all provided with theright-angled slots a, while both ends of the series of strips composingthe inside of the tray are provided with the heads a, as shown in Fig. 4of the drawings.

The material entering into the construction of the tray is light andpliable, and readily permits of the heads being bent so as to enter theright-angled slots in the outside strips, and

when united the heads on the ends of the strips assume their proper formand securely lock the parts together, so that the slats can not becomeseparated under ordinary circumstances. If the slots in the outsidestrips were of a segmental or circular form, the parts are very liableto become disengaged. Practical working has proven that it requires arightangled slot to make a perfect lock. The series of inside stripsrunning at right angles to each other have the alternate edge cut out toform the open rectangular slots d, which form permits of the stripsinterlocking with each other. Two of the outside strips are providedwith the flaps D D, which may be formed of the same piece with the stripB, or may be con nected by a suitable hinged joint, as shown in Fig. 1of the (ilrawings, so that the flaps canbe conveniently thrown back orturned down to form a cover and divide one tray from the other. Theseflaps are of sufficient width to overlap each other, as shown in Fig.20f the drawings, for the purpose of preventing any broken goods fromreaching the next tray below.

If it is desired, the tray may be used in an inverted position, theflaps D D forming the bottom, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, whichchange would permit of the tray and contents being removed from thepacking-case as a whole. The flaps 110w forming the bottom may betemporarily secured at the inner edges and retained in place by means ofthe wire fastening d,provided with a hook on each end, one end beingmade to engage with the flaps or bottom, and the opposite end hookingover the top of the tray.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

vided with the rightangled slots at, of the series of strips 0, formedwith the heads a, and having the beveled cutaway corners Z), whereby theheads a may be conveniently made to engage with the slots in the outsidestrips B, substantially as set forth.

JAMES H. BATGI-IELDER. WVitnesses:

J. B. Gon, L. B. OOUPLAND.

The combination, with the strips B, pro-.

